Ibadan Book Dialogue To Spotlight Gani Ekpobari Martin and Ajayi Olayinka James

 

IBADAN BOOK DIALOGUE TO SPOTLIGHT GANI EKPOBARI MARTIN AND AJAYI OLAYINKA JAMES

 

The Ibadan Book Club (IBC), in partnership with the Milton Society of Africa, has announced that its forthcoming edition of the Ibadan Book Dialogue will feature two distinguished writers, Gani Ekpobari Martin and Ajayi Olayinka James. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 12:00 PM in the Board Room of the Oyo State Library Board, located opposite Cocoa House in Dugbe, Ibadan.

The Ibadan Book Dialogue is one of the club’s flagship literary platforms designed to promote reading culture, celebrate authors, and foster intellectual conversations around literature, society, and development. Over the years, it has brought together both established and emerging voices in Nigerian writing to engage with the public in meaningful discourse.

Speaking on the upcoming event, Wole Adedoyin, Founder of the Ibadan Book Club, expressed excitement over the inclusion of the two guest writers, noting that their unique perspectives will enrich the dialogue. “Gani Ekpobari Martin and Ajayi Olayinka James embody the diversity of Nigerian literary and intellectual talent. Their works and activism reflect the values we hold dear—literary excellence, social consciousness, and creative engagement,” he stated.

Gani Ekpobari Martin hails from Buan in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. A distinguished academic scholar, an erudite in literary studies, and an engineer by profession, he has authored several books including The Broken Shackles, Korkade, The Drives for Money, The Voice of My Father, The Chained Foreigner, Tears of an Old Woman, What My Mother Told Me, Jennifer My Best Friend, and King Tortoise.

His literary contributions have not gone unnoticed, as his works have been adopted by State Ministries of Education in Rivers, Bayelsa, Anambra, and Abia for use in Junior Secondary School Basic Certificate Examinations (Junior WAEC). This recognition underscores his influence as a writer whose stories resonate deeply within Nigeria’s educational and cultural framework.

Beyond writing, Gani is also a social activist dedicated to youth and community development. He currently serves as Secretary-General of the Ogoni Youth Advancement Network, Secretary-General of the Association of Rivers State Creative Writers, and President of the Movement of Rivers Youth for Transparency. He is also an active member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). Presently, he is an academic staff member at the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State.

On the other hand, Ajayi Olayinka James, a final-year Law student at the University of Ibadan, brings youthful vigor and intellectual depth to the dialogue. A passionate essayist and recipient of scholarships, Olayinka has distinguished himself as both a writer and student journalist. He served as the former Editor-in-Chief of a reputable campus press organization, where he used the media to highlight social and student-related issues.

In addition, Olayinka is an active environmental and human rights advocate with a strong commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly climate action. His leadership extends to mentoring peers, tutoring aspiring professionals, and driving personal and career development initiatives within student organizations.

Through their combined experiences as a seasoned scholar and an emerging advocate-writer, Gani Ekpobari Martin and Ajayi Olayinka James promise to deliver an engaging and inspiring session at the Ibadan Book Dialogue. Their stories, writings, and activism align with the event’s mission of using literature as a tool for awareness, empowerment, and social transformation.

The Ibadan Book Club and Milton Society of Africa, therefore, invite book lovers, students, academics, and members of the public to attend this highly anticipated event and participate in what promises to be a thought-provoking literary gathering.